Indian couple receives over ₹2 lakh in compensation after their business class seats failed to recline

Singapore Airlines has been asked to pay an Indian couple with over ₹2 lakh to compensate for the malfunction in the automatic recliner seats in business class.

Telangana's Director General of Police (DGP) Ravi Gupta and his wife filed a lawsuit against the airline after they were asked to manually adjust seats with an automatic recline feature, the New York Post reported.

Gupta and his wife were travelling to Australia via Singapore from Hyderabad on 23 May 2023. According to the complaint filed by the couple, despite paying ₹66,750 each for their business class tickets, their seats malfunctioned and the airline asked them to manually adjust the seats.

Gupta raised the issue with the airline, expressing dissatisfaction over their flight experience despite paying a substantial amount for their tickets. Singapore Airlines offered them 10,000 frequent flyer miles or loyalty points each as compensation.

However, the couple did not accept the offer and took legal action against the company, the report stated.

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The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission in Telangana ruled in favour of Gupta and his wife. They ordered Singapore Airlines to reimburse them with ₹213,585 for the "mental agony" they faced.

Gupta mentioned in the court filings the airline treated them like "economy class passengers" while they bought business class seats. According to the couple, they were made to adjust their seat manually due to the malfunction in the automatically reclining seats. Due to this, they were uncomfortable and awake throughout the flight.

The report released last week stated that the couple won their case against Singapore Airlines and the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission in Telangana ruled in their favour. The court has ordered the company to pay them ₹213,585 for the "mental agony" and physical discomfort they faced during the flight.

(With inputs from agencies)